Alternator wire???

[Troubled93]

So, noticed the other day the headlights were getting a tad dim and that my cd player had shut off as did the climate control. So plug in a voltmeter and an Alt checker and its only running at 11.9 V so obviously I know the Alternator is going possibly. Now the one thing I really noticed was as your standing in front of the car looking at the alternator you notice the plug but the wire that is below that being held on with an 8mm nut... where does that wire go? Starter? because for some reason mine had broke apart...

Any insight or answers would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Justan

 

[rubydist]

that is the 'hot' wire off the alternator, which goes down to the 'hot' terminal on the starter - that also has a wire directly to the positive post on the battery. without that wire connected, the alternator cannot do its job.

 

[Troubled93]

Ok so that would also explain the suddenness without warning the alternator under charging the battery then. Is this something that can be changed on the starter without major surgery ... i.e. subframe removal etc... it just came apart right at the end where it fastens to the alternator.

 

[rubydist]

yup, it screws on at each end.